News Release

Monday, April 17, 2006

Man Who Shot Pregnant Girlfriend Is Shot and Killed by Police

Los Angeles: A man who shot and critically injured his girlfriend has been killed in a shoot-out with police.

On Sunday, April 16, 2006, at approximately 6:18 p.m., officers received a radio call of a shooting in the area of West Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Normandie Avenue, in the Exposition Park area of southwest Los Angeles. When police arrived, they saw a man standing next to a female, who was sitting on the sidewalk. The woman was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The man, an apparent passerby, told officers that the man who shot her was Hispanic, with a shaved head and wearing a t-shirt. While they were talking to the witness, another passerby told officers that there was an Hispanic man wearing a bloody t-shirt sitting at a nearby bus bench.

Officers broadcast the additional information to other units in the area. Police Officer Richard Campos, 36, with 6 years on the Department, and Officer Elliott Kane, 27, with 3 years on the Department, were driving westbound on Martin Lurther King Boulevard when they heard the description of the suspect over the radio. They saw an individual matching the description sitting on a bus bench on the southeast corner of Martin Luther King and Budlong. The man was facing southbound, with his back to the officers.

The officers exited their car and ordered the suspect to stand up. The man stood up holding a gun, walked toward the officers, at which time an officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect fell to the ground and was taken into custody.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Investigators determined that the blood on his shirt, as initially described by the passerby, was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to detectives, the woman’s shooting was related to a domestic dispute that occurred earlier. The victim and suspect were in a relationship and had been arguing. After shooting the victim, the suspect walked eastbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard, and was involved in a second shooting with an unknown individual, described only as a male Hispanic. The two exchanged gunfire, striking several vehicles. The second individual was never found. After this exchange, the suspect continued walking to the location where the officer involved shooting occurred.

The female victim, who is six months pregnant, was transported to a local hospital and entered surgery. She remains in critical but stable condition. The baby is reported to be in stable condition.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Force Investigation Division at 213-485-4011. On weekends and during off-hours call the toll free number at 1-877-LAWFUL (529-3855).